I don't understand what the problem is with the Pope's speech??

Question

I read it. I listened to it. I disected it. I don't understand the problem. He NEVER said that he agreed with it, in fact he said that the words were someone elses, and his whole point was to say that violence should not have a place in religion and that god does not love violence. I guess I just don't understand. Perhaps he should have bent over backwards, but, he said specifically that he was quoting someone else, and gave the reasons why. People then took snippents out of what he said, soundbites, and made it sound like HE was saying those things about islam.
Before you judge me as some kind of Christian apologist, I will tell you that I am an athiest, and I disagree with MOST of what they have to say. I just think on this particular issue, using a quote from someone else in a speech does NOT make the words your own. We can debate all day long about what WE as individuals think of islam, but I DOUVR very seriously that the POPE had inteded to insite the muslim people.

Answer 1

I am an athiest as well, and I think
a. the Pope ws performing the duty of his office
b. his point was that religion and violence don't mix
c. we should all move on and give the old guy a break.
d. AnthonyM is really funny

Answer 2

BilboB: Yours is the first question/statement on the subject with which I fully agree. If people step back and realise that if someone cannot make a point by quoting what someone else said on a given subject, a subject with which we totally disagree, then we are moving into dangerous territory. I honestly think that the Pope has opened a discussion which not only Islamic Clerics but all leaders of religious groups, should welcome with open arms - namely that causing death,injury and destruction for religious reasons is totally wrong and against God's will (or in your case Bilbo - Nature's Law). He should be applauded and having read his speech in its entirety a couple of times, the whole tenure of it was advocating peace.

Answer 3

You are right, the Pope has no reason to apologize, the full text http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=46474 he quoted a 14th century emperor and it was taken out of context. I know of no other religion in recent history that has been as militant, radical, and terroristic as the Islamic radicals. Almost all terrorist acts have been in the name of Islam, all beheadings, suicide bombing, and torture has been in the name of Islam. The rest of the world should demand an apology from the Islamic clerics, and a pledge for them to stop the senseless violence done by these so called true believers.

The following was provided by another member in response to a similar question, it seems to reinforce the propensity toward violence.

Ishaq:544 “Muhammad commanded the people to prepare for the foray [raid, incursion, sortie, attack, or assault]. The Messenger informed his troops that he was going to Mecca. He ordered them to prepare themselves and ready their equipment quickly. He said, ‘O Allah, keep spies and news from the Quraysh until we take them by surprise in their land.'” Fundamental Islamic organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and al-Qaeda offer the same prayer today.

Ishaq:544 “Hassan incited the men, reciting: ‘This is the time for war. Don't feel safe from us. Our swords will open the door to death.'” And so it would be forevermore.

Qur'an 9.5 “When the sacred forbidden months for fighting are past, fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, beleaguer them, and lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.”

Answer 4

Muslims are just looking for a chance to demonstrate how peaceful their religion is. When someone says something offensive large mobs of peaceful Muslims riot in the streets and peacefully threaten non-Muslims for exercising their free speech rights. Sometimes the peaceful Muslims even peacefully kill each other to demonstrate just how peaceful fellow Muslims are.

Just look back at how peacefully Muslims responded when some offensive cartoons were published.

Answer 5

I have not heard Muslim leaders come out and condemn those Muslims who commit mass murder in the name of their God. If they are truly relegion of peace this is the time for them to speak."

The pope was right to say what he has said and
for such a peaceful religion the followers of Islam have a tendency to use “the threat of violence” when they don’t like what they hear.

If Muslims were as quick to publicly condemn the suicide bombers who cowardly kill and maim in the name of Islam, then maybe we'd start taking other things they whinge about more seriously.

Its ok for Islam to print, say and spread anti christian and anti semetic propaganda. As soon as someone writes a book, says anything or even draws a cartoon even remotely anti Islamic, the death threats and the bombings and the looting and sacking of embassies etc starts.

Here we go again! Dare to say anything which could be construed as criticism of Islam, and the usual bandwagon of vilification and hatred gets underway.

Why not wonder "why do people see us in this light; why do people say such things about us?" and seek to change perceptions?!

By giving the usual reaction, Muslims merely reinforce the stereotypical view - it perpetuates the vicious circle.
With all the ongoing crisis in the middle east, as far as I can see, the quote makes a valid point.

If Muslim world's anger can simply be aroused by a quote, it's probably time to get some anger management.

I am DEEPLY tired of the islamics throwing their hands up in horror every time someone even remotely criticises their religion, and yet they feel it is okay to savage anyone (figuratively and literally) that is not of their faith.

Tolerance works both ways; if they want non-islamics to accept them, then maybe they should try to accept that not every living thing wants to be a muslim.

'No real effort to understand Islam'. Oh boo-hoo-hoo. Since when was the onus suddenly on everyone else to understand Islam? People make judgements based on what they see and experience over time. What else is there to understand? Sounds like a spoilt teenager wailing 'no one understands me, I'm so special and unique'. Why doesn't Islam make more effort to understand why a fair number of people dislike it so much?

Instead of Muslims attacking the Pope on his statement, they should be stopping the terrorist groups etc. Why can Muslims sit back and say nothing about attacks in the west but shout with anger when someone questions there way of spreading Islam. Moderate muslims have to choose the sword or democracy there is no in between.
Simple question: Do records show that Mohammed did say something along these lines? Given how he behaved, the answer is probably yes.

Yet again, Muslims are trying to rewrite their own violent history, shutting down any *factual* discussion of history by pretending to be offended rather than countering arguments with facts and getting us to give up our own valuable freedom of speech.
I am not surprised that the Muslims are complaining, all they do. Even historical quotes seem to ruffle there feathers. Yet when they say anything about Christianity or the West we just sit there and take it.

They can only dish out criticism not take it.
How about all the scum that rant and rave on our streets about how evil the West is and openly rejoice in the events of 9/11, retract all their statements?

Once again the Muslims/Islam are having another cry about some words someone has said. This shows how weak Islam is as a religion, say or draw something and they get upset BORING. My faith and beliefs in my own religon transend any petty words or drawings....
Time for Islam to grow up and become part of the world community that we live in....

He was mentioning an historical fact. Islam is the only world religion who's so called "prophet of peace" spread his word by the sword. Did Jesus or Buddha ever take up arms and resort to violence? No. Any religion that leaves room for interpretation of violence, justifies suicide bombing and advocates the repression of women cannoty be viewed as a religion of peace. If Muslims wish us to view thier religion as peaceful then they need to learn tolerance of other views and stop their murdering.

Surely Islam's ridiculously disproportionate response to things such as this and the Mohammed cartoons will only tarnish Islam's image yet further?

For heavens sake. The muslims are upset AGAIN. Are these people really that childish and insecure that every single comment upsets them.
Wouldn't it be so nice to have even a couple of days out from this constant whingeing. What offends most here is that our lives are constantly dominated by this nonsense. Why don't these people grow up?

Answer 6

i agree with oana.

again, i urge all of you to watch the da vinci code movie, or at least read the book.

peace to all.

mohammad. muslim

Answer 7

Muslims and liberals are twisting it into what they want it to be - as usual.

GO W!!!

Answer 8

I agree,those weren't his words. But he made it sound like Only the muslims are bad,kill,and so on.........like christians didn;t have those idiotic crusades.

Answer 9

u ask loooooooooooooooooooong questions.